Search giant Google on Thursday previewed its latest play for consumers' living rooms with Android TV, a new platform for connected televisions and set-top boxes that brings streaming audio and video alongside custom apps and games.

Much of Android TV's functionality is similar to that of the Apple TV or similar set-top boxes from Roku and Amazon. Users will have access to streaming media from companies like Netflix and Hulu, and Google will make the Play Store available for developers to create apps with TV-centric user interfaces.

The platform will also support gaming, with Google showing off a multiplayer NBA Jam session between a player on an Android TV and one on a Samsung tablet. Game controllers are supported, though the minimum controller requirement is a simple directional pad and -- like Amazon's Fire TV -- a microphone for voice search.

Android TV's user interface is relatively conventional, though the company does provide an interesting "overlay" view for the home screen. Rather than closing any open content, the home screen will simply sit atop the still-playing content in a translucent panel.

In keeping with Google's platform-focused strategy, the company will not make its own hardware. Rather, they announced a number of partners -- including television makers Sony, Sharp, and Philips, who will begin shipping Android TV sets in 2015 -- that will manufacture television sets, set-top boxes, and low-powered game consoles based on the software.

The actual device you use is becoming largely irrelevant. Does it really matter if you use an ATV, a Google device, A PS4, or Xbox, or Roku, or a dozen other options to watch Netflix or HBOGo? I have a PS3, a PS4, a Roku, and now a Google Chromecast spread over 4 TV's in my house and they all get the job done. My only requirement is that they can work with Plex well because I have over 1,000movies stored on a Mac, and can play Netflix and HBOGo. I have shied away from ATV because I heard it does not play as well with Plex though that may have changed.

Apple has been dragging their feet in this department, ATV could use some really basic features

Like full iOS and 16GB/32GB of internal storage? Also, Bluetooth game controllers for ATV? Do you know why until now they don't allow full iOS in ATV? Display resolution for apps, my friend. Just look, how can ATV display the iOS games written for iPad or iPhone at different resolutions or aspect ratio? iOS for ATV is different and cannot use standard apps from mobile devices. So, just quit dreaming about Apple TV with full iOS. It won't happen anytime soon or ever.

It seems like eventually every company will have access to everything.It would be interesting if apple created an itunes app that you allowed you to play your itunes content on a ps4 or amazon tv or whatever. This is the new fragmentation, we need itunes, netflix, hulu, and all the others to watch the content that we actually want to watch.

The actual device you use is becoming largely irrelevant. Does it really matter if you use an ATV, a Google device, A PS4, or Xbox, or Roku, or a dozen other options to watch Netflix or HBOGo? I have a PS3, a PS4, a Roku, and now a Google Chromecast spread over 4 TV's in my house and they all get the job done. My only requirement is that they can work with Plex well because I have over 1,000movies stored on a Mac, and can play Netflix and HBOGo. I have shied away from ATV because I heard it does not play as well with Plex though that may have changed.

You don't need Plex to play those movies from your Mac to your tv you can use your Chromecast and a app called Videostream and it works great I use it all the time.

Let me be honest. I used to own google TV box and apple TV. Both I used for some time and sold on craiglist. Between two, second(first apple-tv), I bought google-tv for typical streaming purpose but importantly a browser internet support that was lacking in apple-tv. Unfortunately, somehow you feel that google products have big strategy but when you use, the real good user experience sucks, it lacks that feel and is way behind apple. Android looks as good as ios because of support from such big open source XDA community spending their countless time to enhance android along with all android phone manufacturers. If you leave android to only google in game of android development and it's dependent product development like Nexus(or motorola ?) than it will flop miserably and google TV will be one of them.

Like full iOS and 16GB/32GB of internal storage? Also, Bluetooth game controllers for ATV? Do you know why until now they don't allow full iOS in ATV? Display resolution for apps, my friend. Just look, how can ATV display the iOS games written for iPad or iPhone at different resolutions or aspect ratio? iOS for ATV is different and cannot use standard apps from mobile devices. So, just quit dreaming about Apple TV with full iOS. It won't happen anytime soon or ever.

I was thinking more like global search, ability to read full comments, rate vids, select 1080p on YT vids, etc

For apple TV to stay more relevant and on top of set-top box market or even blunt answer to new google-tv news; apple needs to upgrade processor of apple-tv to A8 or even quad core A8*. This helps to turn it into living room powerful set-top box for living room for the connected devices(iphone,ipad,internet,etc), excellent ios gaming device, with itune, live video streaming device, with added browser support with Siri navigation. That is killing mother of all set-top box for living room.

This is the new fragmentation, we need itunes, netflix, hulu, and all the others to watch the content that we actually want to watch.

That's why I have twice written to Warner to tell them that I'm not buying their fancy disc sets because the UltraViolet "Digital Copy" they provide is not iTunes compatible. I explain that I am very happy to have all my digital content handled by one, very well-established and widely-accepted system and am NOT prepared to add confusion by having some titles here and others there, particularly when the new system is cloud-only which chews through my data allotment when I even HAVE a connection and completely prevents me from watching AT ALL when I don't (like on the subway).

When you find that an offering fails to meet your particular requirements or preferences, take a moment to send the supplier a note TELLING them that you're not sending any of your money their way and why. It works.

I really like Google TV and use it a lot. It integrates Search, IMDB, Netflix very well. The browser is lousy. But the real problem with Google TV is that it doesn't close the loop. After searching for shows, it gives me the link, but then I can't set it for recording from Google TV. It takes me back to the God Awful Comcast box where I have to set it for recording. Totally messes up the flow. Tivo in 2002 had got the interface down pat. I didn't see anything in Android TV that has fixed this. It's improved the UI considerably, offers more (expensive) choices to watch Movies, but has no integration whatsoever with my Cable service. I hear that it's integrated well with Dish Network and if so, then it's a great service for Dish users. Not much use to me.

Does anyone have experience with DVRs for over-the-air TV? I have no interest in cable or satellite and my ancient VCR is junk, but I would like to record some programs using my digital tuner for viewing later and I'm looking for solutions that also do not rely on an Internet connection... Any real-world "cord-cutter" recommendations?

Apple now has everything they need to disrupt the game console industry in a way that none of them see coming. I predict that we’ll see a new AppleTV update (and hardware) this fall along with a new app extension type for AirPlay. AirPlay will become about more than just streaming video to your AppleTV - instead that’ll simply be one of the things you can do with it. Apps (mostly games, I suspect) will be able to bundle an AirPlay extension inside - just like how apps can now bundle photo editing or sharing extensions as of iOS 8. The key difference is where the AirPlay extension app actually executes - instead of running on your device itself from within another host app, the AirPlay extension app will be automatically uploaded to whatever AppleTV you are currently AirPlaying with and will run directly on the AppleTV natively instead. This means no video streaming lag and minimal controller lag.

Does anyone have experience with DVRs for over-the-air TV? I have no interest in cable or satellite and my ancient VCR is junk, but I would like to record some programs using my digital tuner for viewing later and I'm looking for solutions that also do not rely on an Internet connection... Any real-world "cord-cutter" recommendations?

Well there's a good reason why both Apple and Google (among others) are having with the popularity (or lack thereof) of their TV devices- they cannot get universal access to all the programming as that provided by the monopolistic cable companies and the cable companies are not going to surrender any of their market share voluntarily with any other delivery competitor. I wish this were not the case, but unfortunately the cable companies have a near stranglehold on the delivery of massive viewing media to the consumer at a high and inflexible manner. The one glimmer is that it is the content producers who hold the keys to this market, if content providers can make deals with multiple delivery providers, then the hold of cable will be forever broken.

Well there's a good reason why both Apple and Google (among others) are having with the popularity (or lack thereof) of their TV devices- they cannot get universal access to all the programming as that provided by the monopolistic cable companies and the cable companies are not going to surrender any of their market share voluntarily with any other delivery competitor. I wish this were not the case, but unfortunately the cable companies have a near stranglehold on the delivery of massive viewing media to the consumer at a high and inflexible manner. The one glimmer is that it is the content producers who hold the keys to this market, if content providers can make deals with multiple delivery providers, then the hold of cable will be forever broken.

Totally agree, plus the cable companies provide most of the broadband Internet service.

With the announcement yesterday of Live ABC News coming to Apple TV, I realized that news is not so much an entertainment media and on demand, old news has almost no value, so it is not upsetting the cable business. Anything the cable companies have to pay for is not likely to be distributed to Apple TV unless you have a subscription like ESPN or NBA. When you think about it, by the time you buy subscriptions to all the content, on an a la cart basis, you might end up paying more than your full cable subscription.

Google TV should take on their own knock-offs Android PC (sold on eBay), cuz they tried hard to become an entertainment console, sure they just don't have the resource to make it great.

Please, google, enough is enough, you have your own beauty. If you want to kick Apple, mind your own thing, not follow.

Actually, since everyone, there mother and there pets are releasing an ARM based TV box with apps and games BEFORE apple does, Apple will be the one "following"... unless they come up with something unexpected. Currently, Apple is taking so long to update its Apple TV its the worst choice out there, but if you are in Apple ecosystem, you have no real choice, you have to wait for them for an update.

Well there's a good reason why both Apple and Google (among others) are having with the popularity (or lack thereof) of their TV devices- they cannot get universal access to all the programming as that provided by the monopolistic cable companies and the cable companies are not going to surrender any of their market share voluntarily with any other delivery competitor. I wish this were not the case, but unfortunately the cable companies have a near stranglehold on the delivery of massive viewing media to the consumer at a high and inflexible manner. The one glimmer is that it is the content producers who hold the keys to this market, if content providers can make deals with multiple delivery providers, then the hold of cable will be forever broken.

Well with DSL IPTV (AT&T Uverse for example) and cable (Comcast), that sector is seeing competition. Here in the Montreal area, the local cable (videotron) is in an all out war with DSL IPTV (Bell fibe)

Its only a matter of time before internet IPTV becomes the third guy. That being said, DSL or Cable do control the pipe, which put them at an advantage over pure internet feeds. I am convince that regardless where you get you're feeds, pricing will be roughly the same. Internet IPTV will have to sell for a lot less considering you will have to pay an expensive broadband package to get the feeds.

What an Apple TV rip off. It's like every single Google employee has been replaced by someone at samsung. There trying to copy as much features as they can except before ghetto had boundaries. What is to become of Android. Once the training wheels are ditched their gone for ever.